Method and apparatus for transportation and distribution of liquefied gas



Feb. 14, 1933. P. s. ENDAcoTT ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF LIQUEFIED GAS v 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 9, 1929 lNlNTORS. D v

. Paul 5. Endac.

R05 W Thnmas ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 14, 1933. P. s. ENDACOTT ET AL -I METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF LIQUEFIED GAS Filed Nov. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet .W \u QN W Y Vw. AN MW@ Ow uw. r @N NY Q\ in. Rm. wm. WN.

.M .GE

Paul 5. y

INVENTORS. End-DUH ILWTI' amas Cil-7% ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE PAUL s, ENnAcor'r -AND nossWnLL 4w. THOMAS, or BARrLEsvrLLnxoxLAnoMA, Assrelvons 'ro PHILLIPS PETROLEUM coMPANY, or BAR'rLnsvILLE, oxLAHoMA, A

CORPORATION METHOD ANDAPPAEATUS FOR TRANSPORTATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF I'IQUEIFIEI) GAS Application led November 9, 1929. Serial No. 406,149.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for servicing of liquefied gas to customers by the distributor, and more particularly to a method capable of being carried out by use of motor truck carried apparatus, and to the truck including a container or containers for the liquefied gas under superatmospheric pressure with suitable equipment whereby the liquefied gas may be quickly, economically and safely expressed from the container or containers and conditioned for delivery to the customers service tanks.

The primary objects of the present invention are to utilize heat for the purpose of increasing the temperature and hence the pressure of the already compressed liquefied gas in the container that it may be expressed from the servicing container into the customers lservice tanks where there'may be a quantity of liquefied gas already at super. atmospheric pressure,-at a pressure above, or substantially equal to the pressure of the' liquefied gas in the servicing container when the latter is under normal atmospheric temperature condition; and to condition .fthe thus heated liquefied gas so that it will be introduced into the' distributing line or hose, and hence into the customers service tank at a reduced temperature approximating or equal to normal atmospherictemperature.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus which may use the heat of the exhaust gases of the heat engine, (used for propelling the truck) yas a temperature raising and pressure increasing medium thu/sv making for economy and convenience.

Other objects and advantages of the inve tion will appear in the following detailed description of one embodiment of thev present invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofy this specification, and in which drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a liquefied gas distributors servicing truck con-" structed according to the present invention, portions being broken away to disclose some of the units and an example of suitable apparatus which may be used in carrying out the method.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse view thru a portion of the truck, servicin containers Aand suitable jackets associate therewith.- Y

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view thru a portion of thetruck including one of the containers and a radiator.

Figure 4 is a detail view in elevation of a saddle which may be used for support of the container for liquefied gas.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view thru a valve used in selectively directing -hot gases used as a medium forraising the temperature and increasing the pressure of the liqueiied gas in the container.

I n the drawings, wherein like characters designate similar parts thruout the views, A designates a truck chassis including longitu dinal *frame members B upon"l which are mounted a cab C and body D, and which frame' members B also support a heat engine E, such as an internal combustion engine having an exhaust conduit F. The heat engine may be used `for propelling the truck and may be broadly termed a heat generator.

In the example shown, the body D supports two containers G and H for liqueed gas, but

this is to be understood as merely by way of haust gases from conduit F into such proximity to the liquefied gas therein as to raise the temperature and increase the pre ure thereof to .express the liquid gas, whe` desired. A valve L is provided to direct the exhaust gases from conduit F to the atmosphere thru an ordinary muiiier M if desired, or to direct such gases 'into the means J K if desired thru conduit means designated gen-V erally by N and including a valve O. Suitable exhaust pipes PA and Q are provided for means J and K, respectively. The containers G and are provided with outlet `valves R, either of which may be placed. in communication with a radiator S thru flexible conduit T and the radiator S may deliver to aiexible conduit U adapted for connectionfto theaisfl tomers service tank, not shownli'n the-drawlngs.

The body D may comprise a pluralitypf companion minor transverse supports 7 former being recessed as at 8 for a ur' be subsequently set'forth'. Theminor verse supports 7` mayfbe secured jupon; th longitudinal framemembers B and the-major transversesupports 6 may receive 'at their end portions platforms `on walkways'f.

The containers ,G andH, in vhich'the d tributor carriesthe liquefied gas under pres--y sure, tothe customers equipment, are capa` ble of' withstanding high internalpressure and comprise elongated body 10 havinginlWardly bulged `front and rear wallsll and 12, respectively, the rear wallhaving the valve outlet R, a suitable pressure gauge 13 controlled byvvalve 14, and such otheracces-` sories as are deemed ynecessaryvor desirable. The valve R is provided lwith a suitable nipple for detachable connection vwith the conduitT. Y I

-Themeans J and K, inY the example shown are `for use fwith thetwocontainersGgand H and will be so described,'butit is to be` understood that this vequipment is-ap'plicable to portion 31, a web 32 and a crown portion' 33the web portion 32 provided with a plurality of ktransverse perforations 34, to permit circulation of the heated gases in cavity'25.

The covering 26 may comprise inner and outer-walls 35,3nd 36, respectively and a fillingof: heat insulating material 37, such as felt. The walls 35 and 36 are preferably flexf ible so that the covering may be readily removed tdfacilitate :the placing or removal transverse major supports 6 which rest-upniiofthecontainerj This covering may be held i the' in place by-suitable fastening-devices 38 in M oijritbetween shell 2O andcovering 26. These fastening devices, byway of example, may comprise buckles39 and straps 4.0. It is preferred to provide the shell20with inwardly )extending longitudinal iianges 41 which engage the container, kas shown in Figure 2 'so'that the covering 26 need not serve to con -cent the covering.

Since the valves L and O may be of .like

spaced apart relation longitudinally of the fine the heated gases in-the cavity adjaconstruction, as shown in Figure 5, each may be ofarcons'truction to comprise a main body portion 41 including anY entrance lsleeve portion 42 and branch sleeve' portions 43 and 44; a blade-like valve 45; a pivot pin 46 rigid with the valve; and a crank arm 47 on pivot 46. In Figure 5 the valve 45 is shown in a position to direct gases thru'the sleeve portions 42 and 43, but the valve may be moved to the dotted position 48 and direct the gases from sleeve portion 42 to 44, or the valve may beV disposed in an `intermediate position as a truck having :but one largedistributor;indicatedby dotted lines 49 and thereby dicontainer zfor liquefied gas, and vkitsassociated means tocondut the exhaust gases-from coni duit'F intosuc'h proximityto. theliqueied `press the liquefied gaswlienlreleasechgv r'rectr-gasesfrom sleeve portion 42 into bothY sleeve portions 43 and 44. The valve L is provided with an `operating arm 50 which gas in the container, as toraise the*temperal'f may extend into the cab C where it may be ture and increasethepressurethereofta vgconveniently-operated'by the driver. This 1th out departing from-'fthe spirit ofthefi'nve tion as claimedf` 7^ Each of the means shown comprisesa troughlike shell` 2O into which the companionl container isfdispjose'd so that its lower half is in the shell, but"V spaced therefrom except at ends 21 and 22 of the shell and at suitable saddles23 shown in valve is intended to direet thel exhaust gases ibfthe engine or heat generator E from lthe v exhaust conduit F to the muflier M, when in andK inthe exa'inple l one pqeitidn, or direct such gases upwardly 'into ciiduit means N when in another position. vThe valve O, operated by arm 51, also conveniently extended into cab C, may direct Vthe gases into either or both of the branches 52l and. 53 ofthe conduit means N, t-he former detail in Figure 4, providinga cavity 25; having communication with thecavity 25 contact the upper half ofthe container. The shell 20 may comprise inner andouter Walls 27` and 28, between which is disposed heat" insulation, such as felt 2g), the ends 21 and 22 having solid members fbetweenrthesewalls,

disposed above the supportsfl `adjacent-.the

ends of the container, softhat` the latter isef fectively supported even tho nested in the shell 20. The saddles v23 are provided-,by way ofexample, tofsupport the intermediate por associated with container G and the latter 'communicating with the cavity 25 associated withcontainer H. Referring toFigure 5, with the -blade valve in the position shown in full-lines, the hot gasesV are directed into branch conduit52 for-the purpose of raising thev temperature and increasing the pressure in containenG; if said valve is inthe dotted position shown at48, thejhot gases will be directed into branch-conduit 43 for a similar purpose in connectionwith container H; and if the valve assumes the'position indicated in dotted lines at 49,the exhaust gases will be directed into both branch conduits 52 and 53 for the purpose of raising the temperature and increasing the pressure in both containers G and H. The inlet ends of branch conduits 52 and 53 to their respective cavities are preferably adjacent the forward ends of the containers, as indicated at 60, and the exhaust conduits P and Q have their intake ends 61 open to their respective cavities 25 adjacent the rear end portion of the containers. Because of the size of the cavities it is not necessary to first pass the exhaust gases of the engine thru the muliier M before introduction of such gases into the cavities in order to prevent objectionable noise when the exhaust gases issue from the rear ends of conduits P and Q.

Any suitable radiator may be provided,

but in the example shown the preferred typecomprises a tortuous pipe' including a plurality of parallel runs 70, with suitable bendsI 71 at ends, the radiator resting upon frame members B and held thereto by .bars 72. A suitable grid-like platform 73 may be mounted upon radiator Sin order that an attendant may rest thereon Whenmanipulating valves 14, changing the position of conduit T from the nipple portion 15 of one valve R to the other like valve, and otherwise directing his attention to the equipment.

The operation of the method and apparatus is as follows:

Bearing in mind that the liquid gas is under superatmospheric pressure in the containers G and H, and that so long as any liquid gas is in the customers service tank, the same is also under superatmospheric pressure, and if the temperatures of both the dstributors and the customers tanks are about the same, the superatmospheric pressure therein will be about equal, it will be seen that some difference in pressure-isnecessary in order to force the liquefied gas into the customers tank. Under certain conditions it may be found convenient to do this by gravity flow. According to the present invention, the liquefied gas may be expressed from the distributors containers by raising the temperature of the liquefied gas and hence increasing the pressure. It is desirable, however, that the temperature be restored toy approximately normal atmospheric temperature before the liquefied gas reaches the customers tank, and preferably before entering the flexible conduit U. The method is therefore one of expressing and conditioning the liquefied gas from the motor truck carried containers and the economy and convenience in practicing the method resides in utilizing heat of the motor or engine of the truck to increase the temperature and pressure, and subsequent-ly cool or reduce the temperature of the liquefied gas before it leaves the truck carried apparatus.

The manner in which the valves L and O are operated to accomplish the object in view is no doubt obvious from the foregoing but it is pointed out that the equipment may be simplified to quite some extent Where the truck is equipped with but one large distributors container.

In reduction to practice, it has been found that the form of invention illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment, is eflicient and practicable Where it is desired to transport large quantities of liquefied gas and to draw first from one container and then from the other, but realizing that conditions concurrent With the adoptionof this equipment will necessarily vary, it is desired to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, propor tion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, Without sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention, as delined in the appended claims:

We claim:

1. In apparatus for distribution of liquefied gas, the combination of a truck including a heat engine for operation of the truck, provided With a conduit for the exhaust thereof,

a container for liquefied gas under superatmospheric pressure, carried by the truck, means in communication with said conduit to conduct exhaust gases of said heat engine into such proximity to the liquefied gas in said container as to raise the temperature and increase the pressure thereof, a valve in said conduit for directing the exhaust gases to said means or to the atmosphere Without passing thru said means, and a radiator carried by the truck, in communication with the outlet of said container for reducing the temperature of the outgoing liquefied gas.

2. In apparatus for distribution of liquelied gas, the combination of a truck including a heat engine for operation of the truck, provided With a conduitl for the exhaust thereof, a pair of containers for liquefied gas under superatmospheric pressure carried by the truck to each side of the longitudinal axis thereof, means for each container in communication with said conduit to conduct exhaust gases of said heat engine into such proximity to the liquefied gas therein as to raiserthe temperature and increase the pressure thereof, and a valve in said conduit for directing the exhaust gases to the means of either or both of said containers.

3. In apparatus for distributing liquefied gas, the combination of a truck; a container for liquefied gas under superatmospheric pressure, including a controlled outlet, a,

heat generator and a radiator on said truck; means for conducting heat of said generator to a position relative to the liquefied gas to increase the temperature and pressure thereof, and a. connection between said outlet and ISI) radiator whereby the liquefied gas expressed from the container is reduced in temperature before leaving the truc 4. In apparatus for distribution of liquefied gas, the combination of a horizontally disposed elongated high pressure resistant container for liqueiied gas* under superatmospheric pressure, a trough-like vshell for removably receiving said container and into which the lower rtion of said container is disposedr to con said shell provided with 'an inlet, a heat generator, and means for introducing heat of said generator into said inlet to increase the temperature and pressure of the liquefied gas in said container'. l

5. In ap aratus for distribution'of liquefied gas, t e combinationfo a horizontally disposed elongated highpiressurc resistant container for liquefied gas under pressure, a

trough-like shell for removably receiving said container and into which-the Vlower portion of said container is-dsposed to confine gases in said shell to' ypassage 'infV close1 -proximit to said container,f., sa id rshell provided `Wit an inlet, a heatjgenrator, means for intr0- ducing heat of saidfgeneratorinto said inlet toV increase' the temperature and pressure of `the liqueiied gas in. said container, and heat' insulation removably disposedoii `the upper ortion 'of said .iontainer. Y, y -v 6.A A method of transferring a liquid which changes' into a ga'sjl at ,normal atmospheric pressure and temperature Yfrom atanko'n a motor truck to 'a'service tank, which consists in heating said liquid while in the'l first mentioned tankby' exhaust gases from the motor ofthe truck and thereby increasing the pressure of said liquid, causing Asaid liquid to ii-oyv from said first mentioned tank by said increased pressure, coolingsaid liquid after it leaves said first mentionedtank, and then discharging same into the service tank which is under the pressureof its; saturated vapor. 7; A method of transferring a liquid f which changes into a gas at normal atmospheric .pressure land temperature from a tank on a motor truck to a service tank, which consists in heating said liquid Whilein the first mentioned tank by exhaust gases from themotor of the truck and thereby increasing the pressure on said liquid, causing said liquid to flow from said first mentioned tank by said increased pressure, and then discharging same in'to the service tank Whichy is' under the pressure ofits saturated va or. y

' PAUL S. ENDACOTT.

` ROSSWELL W. THOMAS.

e gases in said shell to passage in close proximity to said container, 

